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DCEG Assembles Two New Review Committees
DCEG has developed two new groups to review proposals and prioritize new projects that use NCI’s Core Genotyping Facility (CGF) and Hormone Measurement Laboratory at NCI-Frederick.
The Genotyping Review Committee, chaired by Margaret A. Tucker, M.D., Director of the Human Genetics Program and Chief of the Genetic Epidemiology Branch (GEB), conducts rigorous scientific review and prioritizes proposals for projects involving geno-typing at CGF. Proposals are judged by their potential impact on biological concepts, clinical practice, and public health; epidemiologic rigor, including statistical power and analytic approaches; innovation and relevance of selected genes/pathways/approaches; and feasibility. Members serve one-year terms. Currently serving are Demetrius Albanes, M.D., Nutritional Epidemiology Branch; Neil E. Caporaso, M.D. (GEB); Stephen J. Chanock, M.D., Director of CGF and Chief of the Laboratory of Translational Genomics; Michael B. Cook, Ph.D., Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch (HREB); Phuong Mai, M.D., Clinical Genetics Branch; Lindsay M. Morton, Ph.D., Radiation Epidemiology Branch; Ruth M. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., Biostatistics Branch; Karen E. Pitt, Ph.D., Office of the Director; Nathaniel Rothman, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.S., Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch; and Kelly Yu, M.P.H., Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch.
“Because of the increasing demand on CGF as a resource to conduct high-throughput genotyping for molecular epidemiology studies and, most recently, large-scale genome-wide association and candidate gene studies, it became necessary to add a specialized task force to vet the science,” Dr. Tucker said. “This process has increased the level of transparency and efficiency in completing genotyping and genomic projects within the Division.” After project proposals have been reviewed by the committee, the lead investigator receives reviewer scores, comments, and the status of the proposal. Approved proposals are placed in a queue, at which time biorepositories are informed that the project’s samples may be prepared for shipment to CGF.
The Hormone Laboratory Advisory Committee (HLAC), chaired by Louise A. Brinton, Ph.D., Chief of HREB, is composed of scientific and administrative representatives from DCEG, the Center for Cancer Research (CCR), and SAIC-Frederick and is responsible for reviewing and prioritizing projects using the Hormone Measurement Laboratory within the Laboratory of Proteomics and Analytical Technologies (LPAT) at NCI-Frederick. This laboratory provides a new resource that can reliably measure levels of estrogen and 15 estrogen metabolites in urine and serum using sequential liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy methods, and it will expand to involve additional analytes and media. “The anticipated demand on this facility is great,” Dr. Brinton explained. “NCI needed to mobilize a strong cadre of staff to effectively manage the influx of projects through sound scientific and administrative review and prioritization.” The committee acts in an advisory capacity and, after initial review and scoring, makes recommendations to the directors of DCEG and CCR for final determination.
The HLAC members, who serve two-year terms, include Marianne K. Henderson, M.S., Chief, Office of Division Operations and Analysis; Dr. Walter Hubert, Office of Scientific Operations, NCI-Frederick; Dr. Larry Keefer, Chief, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, CCR; Dr. Pfeiffer; Dr. Nancy Potischman, Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences; Dr. Tim Veenstra, Director, LPAT, SAIC-Frederick; Alyssa Voss, M.P.H., Office of Communications and Special Initiatives; Dr. Samuel Wells, Surgery Branch, CCR; Dr. Xia Xu, LPAT, SAIC-Frederick; and Regina G. Ziegler, Ph.D., M.P.H., Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program.
—Alyssa Voss, M.P.H.
